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Relationship between sarcopenia, six‐minute walk distance and health‐related quality of life in liver transplant candidates
Author(s) -
Yadav Anitha,
Chang YuHui,
Carpenter Sarah,
Silva Alvin C.,
Rakela Jorge,
Aqel Bashar A.,
Byrne Thomas J.,
Douglas David D.,
Vargas Hugo E.,
Carey Elizabeth J.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
clinical transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.918
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1399-0012
pISSN - 0902-0063
DOI - 10.1111/ctr.12493
Subject(s) - sarcopenia , medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , hazard ratio , skeletal muscle , confidence interval , nursing
Sarcopenia, or loss of skeletal muscle mass, is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in liver transplant ( LT ) candidates. Six‐minute walk distance (6 MWD ) and health‐related quality of life ( HRQOL ) as assessed by short form 36 scores ( SF ‐36) also impact clinical outcomes in these patients. This study explored the relationship between the sarcopenia, 6 MWD , and HRQOL in LT candidates. Sarcopenia was evaluated based on skeletal muscle mass index ( SMI ) quantified from abdominal computed tomography. Patients were followed until death, removal from the wait list or the end of the study period. Two hundred and thirteen patients listed for LT were included. The mean SMI , 6 MWD and mean gait speed were 54.3 ± 9.7, 370.5 m and 1 m/s, respectively. Sarcopenia was noted in 22.2% of LT candidates. There was no correlation between sarcopenia, 6 MWD , and SF ‐36 scores. The 6 MWD , but not sarcopenia, was an independent predictor of mortality (hazard ratio = 2.1 [0.9–4.7]). In summary, sarcopenia did not emerge as a significant predictor of waitlist mortality and also failed to correlate with either functional capacity or HRQOL in LT candidates. In patients with ESLD awaiting LT , 6 MWD appears to be a more useful prognostic indicator than the presence of sarcopenia.